|
Dear Friends,
As we journey through the final weeks of Lent, we do so in a time of deep uncertainty. The divisions and unrest in our country weigh heavily on many of us. We see conflict in our communities, anxiety about the future, and a longing for something better. Lent invites us to acknowledge this brokenness - not just in the world, but in ourselves - and to remember that God meets us in these difficult places.
But Lent is not the end of the story. As we approach Holy Week and Easter, we are reminded that God’s response to suffering and death is always resurrection. The road to new life is not without sorrow, but it leads us somewhere profoundly hopeful.
A central part of this journey is something called the Triduum (pronounced TRID-oo-um), which simply means “Three Days.” These are the three most important days in the Christian calendar, when we walk with Jesus through his final moments and into the joy of resurrection.
Maundy Thursday (the first day) remembers Jesus’ last meal with his friends. On this night, he washed their feet as a sign of love and told them, “Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” We also recall how he gave us the gift of Holy Communion, sharing bread and wine and saying, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
Good Friday (the second day) is the day of the cross. It is a solemn day when we remember Jesus' suffering and death. It may feel like the darkest moment of the story, but even here, God is present.
Holy Saturday and the Easter Vigil (the third day) begin in stillness. We sit with the uncertainty and grief of Jesus’ death, waiting for what comes next. Then, as night falls, we gather for the Easter Vigil, when light breaks into darkness, and we proclaim the joy of resurrection—Christ is risen!
These three days are really one continuous story - a movement from love, to loss, to unimaginable new life. When we participate in the Triduum, we don’t just remember something that happened long ago; we step into the story and experience its power in our own lives. I hope you will participate in this journey towards resurrection joy.
Celebrating Dr. Mark Lawlor
This Easter Sunday, April 20th, will be a particularly special day for our parish, as we celebrate both the resurrection of Christ and the ministry of our beloved Music Director, Dr. Mark Lawlor, on his final Sunday with us before retirement. Mark has blessed St. Mary’s with his extraordinary gifts, deep faith, and joyful spirit, enriching our worship in ways beyond measure. While we will miss him dearly, we are profoundly grateful for all he has shared with us.
To honor Mark and express our appreciation, we will host a festive coffee hour in his honor after the 10:00 AM Easter Sunday service. I invite you all to join us as we celebrate his ministry and offer him our gratitude.
Additionally, we are gathering a purse collection as a token of our thanks. If you would like to contribute, you may drop off your offerings of cash or checks made out to Mark Lawlor at the Parish Office.
In this season, when so much in the world feels uncertain, let us hold onto the truth of Easter: that love is stronger than hate, life is stronger than death, and hope is never truly lost. May this Holy Week draw us deeper into that hope and may Easter morning fill us with the joy of new life.
Yours in Christ,
| | |
Tuesday April 1
All Day: Outreach Grant Application Deadline (Spring)
8:30 AM Men's Fellowship Group, Walden Hall
3:30 PM Garden Committee Meeting, St. James Room
Wednesday April 2
9:00 AM Executive Committee Meeting, St. James Room
9:30 AM Private Meeting, Patio
10:00 AM Staff Meeting, St. James Room
12:00 PM Lenten Bible Study: The Women of Easter, Walden Hall, zoom
1:00 PM Monthly Eucharist at Heatherwood, at King's Way
3:30 PM FAIR Project Meeting, St. James Room
6:15 PM Parish Choir Rehearsal, Walden Hall
Thursday April 3
8:30 AM Books & Breakfast, Walden Hall, zoom
10:30 AM Pastoral Care Meeting, St. James Room
6:30 PM Zen Meditation, Walden Hall
Friday April 4
6:00 PM Vestry Dinner, Rectory
10:00 AM Altar Guild Meeting, St. James Room
12:00 PM Stations of the Cross, Church
1:00 PM Grief Group, Library, zoom
Saturday April 5
8:30 AM Vestry Retreat, St. Christopher's Chatham
5:00 PM Taize with Holy Eucharist, Church
6:00 PM Taize Reception, Walden Hall
Sunday April 6
8:00 AM Holy Eucharist, Church
8:50 AM Private Meeting, St. James Room
9:00 AM Monthly Fellowship, Walden Hall
10:00 AM Children's Church, Church
10:00 AM Holy Eucharist, Church
11:15 AM Coffee & Fellowship, Walden Hall
Monday April 7
11:30 AM Garden Party Planning Meeting, St. James Room
3:30 PM Education for Ministry, St. James
6:45 PM Cape Cod Chorale Rehearsal, Walden Hall
Tuesday April 8 & 9
All Day: Staff Lock-In Days
| |
April Birthdays
Happy Birthday to all the April babies!
Click here or on the flier below for a list of our parishioners celebrating a birthday in April. If we have missed yours, please reach out and let us know.
| | | Glenn Getting Ready for our Holy Week Banner. | "Sun Shower" Hummel in AT Thrift Shop. | | St. Mary's famous hospitality. | |
Roy in his secret AT office, appraising donations (or thinking about stealing another cook book)?
| |
Easter Flower Dedications
Please click here to sign-up here for Easter Flower Dedications. Please note all checks need to be made out to St. Mary's Episcoapl Church and please include in the memo line: "Easter Flowers." Thank you.
| | |
SMART: A Lenten Study Series White Christian Nationalism: How Did We As a Nation Get Here and What Can We Do About It?
Date: Tuesdays in Lent
Time: 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Location: via zoom
Facilitator: Hosted By St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church
Please note! You are welcome to register for any and all sessions. It is not too late to participate. The series will cover the following topics:
April 1 at 8 pm - The Episcopal Church's Response to White Christian Nationalism.
April 8 at 8 pm - What Can We Do to Push Back Against White Christian Nationalism? Featuring Aaron Scott and his book, Bring Back Your People: Ten Ways Regular Folks Can Put a Dent in White Christian Nationalism
| | | We have many other SMART events on the calendar in the coming weeks. Please be sure to read our Weekly SMART News that comes out every Thursday. | |
Children's Church
Date: Sunday, April 6
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Church
First Sunday of the month so, it is time for our once-a-month Children's Church. All Children between the ages of 5 and 12 years are invited to join the group for spiritual formation.
| | |
Eucharistic Visitor Training
Dates: April 26, May 3, or May 10
Time: 9:00 AM to Noon
Location: Various..
Eucharistic visitors extend the altar to include those who are homebound or in the hospital. This important pastoral and liturgical ministry is offered by adult lay members of the congregation who are certified by the diocese. In order to be certified, eucharistic visitors must complete Safe Church training, be nominated by their priest, and attend a diocesan-approved training.
This spring, three Saturday morning trainings are being offered by the Diocese in partnership with the St. Paul Center for Theology and Prayer. Please consider joining in this training. The May 3rd training will be held at St. David's Church in South Yarmouth.
| | |
Save the Date!
St. Mary's Celebration of the Gardens
Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
It is time for a Garden Party!
Flowers have begun popping from the ground these past few weeks. Yes, Spring is on its way with warmer days, lots of color and frgrance in the air.
Here at St. Mary's we're looking forward to showcasing our lovely spring gardens with a day that will include children's activities, crafts, baked goods, and more. We are calling this event ...
"St. Mary's Celebration of the Gardens"
As part of this celebration, we are hosting a Garden Party Luncheon. It's a fun spin on the Daffodil Teas of the past with great sandwiches, dessert and more. The Luncheon will have one seating (80 people only) at noon and the cost will be $25.00 per person. Wear your Spring finery, or not, and be prepared for a great time. Please click the image below for the official Invitation to the Garden Party Luncheon and your chance to make a reservation. Please be sure to share this invitation far and wide with family and friends. We need your help to make this event a smashing success!
| | | |
St. Mary's Formation & Education |
|
Education for Ministry
Weekly on Mondays
3:30 to 7:00 PM
| Education for Ministry's (EfM) theme for this year is Living into the Journey with God. Speak with Amy Crocker if you are interested or have questions about the EfM program. | | |
Lenten Bible Study
The Women of Easter
Date: Wednesdays
April 2, 9, 16
Time: Noon
Location: Walden Hall, zoom
Facilitator: Fr. Michael
Join us for a Lenten journey exploring The Women of Easter by Liz Curtis Higgs. Together, we will delve into the stories of women who played pivotal roles in Jesus' journey to the cross and resurrection. Bring a bag lunch and join the discussion. All are welcome to join.
| | | Wednesday Spirituality Discussions | Please note this group is on hiatus until later in the Spring. | | |
Book & Breakfast Group Update
The Books & Breakfast Group is starting a new book, Accidental Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People by Nadia Bolz-Weber. Nadia Bolz-Weber invites readers into a surprising encounter with what she calls “a religious but not-so-spiritual life.” Tattooed, angry and profane, this former standup comic turned pastor stubbornly, sometimes hilariously, resists the God she feels called to serve. But God keeps showing up in the least likely of people—a church-loving agnostic, a drag queen, a felonious Bishop and a gun-toting member of the NRA.
We will start discussing the book (chapters 1- 4) on Thursday, April 10.
As always, all are welcome to join this vibrant group for a weekly gathering of morning prayer, stimulating spiritual discussions, breakfast treats and fellowship.
| | |
Stations of the Cross During Lent:
Please join us every Friday at noon throughout Lent, (April 4, and 11) for Stations of the Cross in the Church. Fellow parishioners will rotate leading this prayerful tradition. Join us and deepen your faith this Lent.
| | |
Keeping Watch
You are invited to help us keep a prayerful vigil from Good Friday evening into Holy Saturday. The Sanctuary will be open for prayer from 4:30 PM on Good Friday to 12:00 AM (Holy Saturday begins). Please sign-up for your half hour window on our sign-up genius here. Family groups are welcome to pray together. Thank you for helping us keep watch at the tomb on this Holy night.
| | |
Voices From Our Parish and Ministry News |
|
Pastoral Care
Your Pastoral Care Team is sharing two articles one focused on Grief from the Center for Action and Contemplation. It is entitled, The Tears of Things, Letting Grief Flow. Click here to read the full article.
The second article is from Cape Cod Health Care, entitled,
Walking for Back Pain
Click here for the article.
| | |
Aging Gracefully
By Pastor Russ Norris
People sometimes ask for advice about positive aging. Arthur Brooks has suggested thinking about our later life experience as if investing in a 401(k) financial plan. If you wait to start saving when you turn 60, you’re going to have a big problem. It’s also true for how we imagine our “future selves.” That was the title of a report on aging issued in 1976 by the National Institute on Aging. The forward was written by its director, Dr. Robert Butler at the International Longevity Center. It was Butler who coined the term “ageism,” and he fought it to the end of his life.
Becca Levy wrote Breaking the Age Code: How Your Beliefs About Aging Determine How Long and Well You Live (Morrow, 2022). The title says it all. More of our life, including later life, is in our hands than we imagined. But it’s like that 401(k) plan: Start “investing” in your
future self as early as you can. Don’t wait.
| |
Vestry
We do not yet have Vestry minutes approved from the March meeting. Your Vestry will be gathering together this weekend for a Planning Retreat. Please keep them all in your prayers.
Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, we humbly ask for your presence with those who serve on our vestry. As they gather to discuss the needs and future of our church, may they be guided by your Holy Spirit, and may their hearts be open to your will.
Amen
| | | |
Get Involved With Volunteer Opportunities |
|
Preparing for Our Upcoming Celebration of the Gardens Event:
Calling All Crafters and Bakers!
Do you knit, sew, carve, crotchet, paint, or have other artisan skills? If you are able to contribute something hand-made with love, for our upcoming Celebration of the Garden on May 17, 2025 please reach out to Bev Parke 774-994-2273.
Are you a baker? We are looking for donations of sweet treats to sell as well. Any talented cookie decorators out there eager to whip up some flower or butterfly cookies? Please contact Beth Hearn
Thank you!
| | |
OAT's Volunteer Opportunities
OAT is St. Mary's Outreach Action Team that works to highlight opportunities to serve at St. Mary's and in our greater community. Current Outreach opportunities and the individuals to contact are listed in the attached flier.
| | |
Seeking Volunteers to Plan and Lead the Easter Egg Hunt in the Garden
We are looking for volunteers to plan and lead an Easter Egg Hunt this year. Please email the office if you or your Ministry Group is interested in leading the Egg Hunt this year. We own the plastic eggs but will need candy, stuffers, hiders etc. This event will require a team of volunteers. Thank you!
| | |
Stewardship at St. Mary's
Stewardship is Everywhere!
This month we captured Roy Hammer hard at work appraising donations in Angels' Treasures Thrift Shop.
Did you know Angels' Treasures Thrift Shop is the single biggest source of revenue for our parish outreach efforts? It takes a lot of people to make the best little Thrift Shop around hum along. Maybe working in retail isn't your thing? Do you enjoy researching antiques, doing dump-runs, re-finishing or repairing furniture? How about helping with marketing and social media posts? There are so many different ways you can help at Angels' Treasures. Just send Janis Umschlag a note and she will find a way for you to volunteer.
| | |
1891 Society
Attention all Non-itemizers!
Individuals 70 1/2 and older may transfer up to $108,000 from their IRA to:
- Satisfy some or all of your required minimum distributions.
- Reduce your taxable income without relying on an income tax deduction.
- Make an immediate gift to the church.
If you are interested in joining the 1891 Society, please contact Linda Gadkowski at:
lgadkows@capecod.net or 508-292-5500.
| | |
New Logo = New Gear - Coming Soon!
Be on the lookout for new St. Mary's apparel featuring our fabulous new logo. Peter Scarafile is hard at work setting up an on-line shop for us. As soon as it is up and running we will share the new links and information.
Did you know that 100% of the proceeds generated go directly into the Rector's Discretionary Fund? This is an easy way to help raise funds for our rector's good works and at the same time treat yourself or your loved ones to some high-quality apparel items.
| | | |
Cape Community News and Events |
|
Barnstable Hazardous Waste Collection
Date: Saturday, April 5
Time: 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Location:Barnstable Transfer Station, Flint Street, Marstons Mills
Barnstable will hold a Household Hazardous Waste collection on Saturday, April 5 from 9 to noon at the transfer station on Flint Street, Marstons Mills.
Hazardous waste includes insecticides, spot remover, and lithium batteries. Latex paint is not hazardous and is not accepted at collections.
Those who wish to participate but missed their own respective town’s collection event can fill out a non-resident form and registration as well pay a fee.
All residential property owners in the town can participate, even without a transfer station sticker.
Proof of residency or land ownership is enough to participate.
More examples of what waste is and is not allowed can be found here.
| | |
Artist of the Year Roundtable
Date: Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Time: 6 pm to 7:30 pm
This is more than just a talk—it’s a chance to feed your soul with intelligent conversation, immerse yourself in Cape Cod’s dynamic arts scene, and experience a night of culture in a truly cool, historic venue, the Cape Cinema. This is an evening that promises inspiration, connection, and creative energy. The Arts Foundation’s four Artists of the Year—Jo Hay, Mark Adams, Julia Cumes, and Joe Diggs—will share their artistic journeys, creative resilience, and what fuels their work in a conversation led by Executive Director Julie Wake.
| | |
History on Tap - A Benefit for The Cape Cod Maritime Museum featuring, Carol Newman Cronin, 2004 Olympic Sailor and Cape Resident
Date: Thursday, April 3, 2025
Time: 5:00 to 7:00 PM
Purchase tickets here
Carol Newman Cronin is an author and 2004 Olympian who learned to sail in Woods Hole. In 2010, she turned her father’s stories about riding out the 1954 storm into her second novel, Cape Cod Surprise. She will also talk about her first competitive sailing in Cape Cod Knockabouts, which eventually led her to compete in the Olympics.
$10 per person, $5 for members; IDs will be checked at the door for those sampling beer. Cheese, crackers, water, and non-alcoholic beer options will also be available. We highly recommend reserving your tickets in advance. Popular events often sell out quickly.
| | |
Campus Notes
&
Parish Communications
| |
A Good Problem to Have
We are asking for your help with our rapidly crowding parking lot on Sunday mornings. It would be very helpful if St. Mary's Choir members and other liturgical participants could park in the farther away parking areas like the Law Offices at the Old Barnstable House or at Sturgis Library on Sunday mornings. Carpooling is encouraged as well. Thank you for doing all you can to help us with this "happy problem".
| | |
St. Mary's Office Hours
The Church office is open to the public Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. If an Office Angel is present the front office will be open between 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM. In order to accommodate multiple individual meeting requests, appointments to meet with clergy and staff are recommended.
Please email our Parish Administrator, Julie Remie at: Julie.Remie@stmarysbarnstable.org to schedule appointments with Fr. Michael, and for appointments with our staff, please contact the staff member directly.
For general inquiries, please contact our office at info@stmarysbarnstable.org or call the office at 508-362-3977.
If you have a pastoral emergency, please call our confidential Pastoral Care line at 508-318-6646 and our on-call staff will respond.
| | |
SMART - Offerings Email
Be on the lookout for a new weekly email every Thursday highlighting the current SMART offerings. Please be sure to send all SMART content contributions to Allison no later than the prior Monday. Thank you.
| | |
Announcements During Services
To help us keep announcements concise while ensuring everyone is heard, we kindly ask that anyone wishing to make an announcement let Father Michael or our Senior Warden, Marian Ferguson, know by the Saturday before the Sunday services. Please include a brief description of what your announcement is about. We ask that you limit your announcements to 2 or 3 minutes maximum. This will allow us to coordinate and keep the announcement time running smoothly.
| | |
St. Mary's Social Media
Please be sure you are following us on both of our public Instagram and Facebook pages in order to stay on top of what is happening at St. Mary's. We want our social media to represent who we are and your contributions are most welcome. We welcome your pictures, videos, and voices. Please send Allison your pictures and posts for sharing.
| | |
St. Mary's Communications
-
The This Week at St. Mary's will go out every Tuesday. Please submit any content for this no later than the prior Friday.
-
The SMART Offerings at St. Mary's will go out every Thursday. Please submit your content for this email no later than Monday.
-
The This Weekend At St. Mary's will go out every Friday. Please submit your content for this no later than Tuesday mornings.
-
Our new A Michael Minute will go out on Monday mornings to highlight the week ahead.
-
The deadline for submissions for our Monthly E-Newsletter is the 25th of the prior month. On the first of the month our Weekly and Monthly News will be combined in one email.
-
For your convenience, the Monthly Newsletter (printed out) will be available in the sunroom and in the parish office for those who would like a paper copy.
| |
Save the Dates
for the month of
MAY
| |
-
May 3, 2025 - Eucharistic Visitor Training (details above) - St. David's in Yarmouth
-
May 4, 2025 Movie Theology - Heaven for Real
- May 17, 2025 - St. Mary's Celebration of the Gardens
| | | |
Saint Mary's Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 395
3055 Main Street
Barnstable, MA 02630
508-362-3977
www.stmarys-church.org
| | | | |
